Pressure gauge



May 31, 1932. J. P. REMINGTON PRESSURE GAUGE Filed'Aug. 5l, 1927 ,Im/ENTOR; Joseph i? Remington,

BY @mq ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 31, 1932 Unirse STATS JOSEPH IP. REMINGTON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA PRESSURE crimenV Application led August 31,l 1927. 'Serial No. 216,717.

rI`his invention has reference "to pressure gauges and, more particularly, to that type generally classified as low pressure-indicating instruments usefulfor showing the liquid t' level in gasoline tanks of automobiles and the like. Instruments `of the character referred to usually employ a trapped head .of air or gas as the pressure responsive measuring medium and involve intricate adjustments to accommodate them to differing depths of supply tanks.

It is customary with automotive engineers to Vlocate the feedl pipe, which conducts gasoline to the carbureter of an internal combustion motor, so that it terminates an inch or so above the actual bottom of the supply tank. Hence, any residue remaining in the tankwhich may contain water and sediment-can not be drawn up into the carbureter, while the instrument-board gasoline-gauge indicates Empty when no more gasoline is available to be drawn up into the caibureter, or, in other words, when the level has fallen to the bottom of the fuel line instead of to the actual bottom of the supply tank.

In order not to indicate the residue in the tank it is, obviously, necessary to initially set .the indicating pointer a certain distance away from-or in advance of--the Empty marking, and, in order to accomplish this end I find, that, on account of widevariation in the amount of residue possible Vin different supply tanks, such initial setting is not always accurately effected at the factory, `with the attendant disadvantage such instruments need further adjustment when fitted in operative location.

Accordingly, the primary object of my 40 present invention is to provide a gauge of the typified character embodying means whereby the noted adjustments, both initial-and secondary when necessarycan be readily effected to accommodate varying depths of supply tanks, as well as effectively preventing it from indicating the presence of iin-useable residue in the supply tank.

IVitli the just recited and other objects in view, as well as the attainment of greater simplicity in construction and ease of assemvparts `are supported as a compact body.

,inent mounted between shiftable bearings,

one of which permits its leverage to be short- `ened or lengthened for depth of tank adjustment; while the other bearing is designed to permit movement of said rock element toward or away from the gauge diaphragm so as to accommodate varying amounts of residue. Incidentally this latter adjustment also takes l care of manufacturing irregularities such as incorrect dish in the gauge diaphragm, as well as other-not easily controlled-irregu-` larities incident to inexact assembly.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the present invention will be'inanifest as it is better understood from the following detailed explanation, which when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrates a practical embodiment thereof; while the appended claims serve to clearly deiine those features alleged as novel and, therefore, constituting patentable subjectmatter. l 7E In the drawings f Fig. I is a face viewv of a low pressure gauge embodying the present improvements.

Fig. II is a sectional view of the' saine, taken as indicated by the arrows IIII in Fig. I.

Fig. III is a detail face view of the gauge assembly removed from the enclosure casing. j I Fig. IV is a plan view of the same.

Fig. V is a sectional view, taken as indicated by the arrows V-V in Fig. III,

` Fig. VI is a perspective view of the gauge frame member whereby the various working Fig. VII is a perspective view of a reguvlator element, hereinafter particularly described. i Y

Fig. VIII is a perspective View of the gauge operating lever. V

Fig. IX is a perspective view of a clamping device, later on again referredto; and, Fig. X is a smaller-scale.illustration of my novel gauge attached to a fragmentary portion of an instrument board.

Referring more in detail to the drawings my novel pressure gauge embodies two main components, namely the gauge assembly comprehensively designated 11, and the casing similarly characterized 12; with an auxiliary component or clamping device, generally indicated by the reference index 13. 'The gauge assembly 11 .comprises a mounting member or frame lli-F ig. Jl-preferably formed, as a sheet metal stamping, tov pro-` vide a vertical portion 14, havingglateral or side flanges 15, with upper and lower horizontal flange portions 16, 17 respective. ly; while the vertical portion 14 aforesaid is provided with a centralV aperture-'13` af medium is vconducted to the aneroid disl 20 through an appropriate coupler nipple 23 i enO'a in@V the screw-threaded boreY ofA the shank 19; a compressible tubular packing 24 being tted in said shank to ensure a fluid tight joint between the connected parts.

Referring again to the mounting member or frame 14 it willbe seen that the free ends of thejflange portions` 16, 17 are provided with opposed'inwardly-converging slots 25, that afford bearing spurs 26 for the gauge dialA 27, and co-planar arcuate tongues or spacers 23, Which areadapted for compression into clamping engagement upon the face of said dial, as later on explained. Incidentally, it is noteworthy that this manner of securing the dial 27 in place, effectively-pre vents assembly fracture when said4 dial is closed in-orpcovered in with a superposed glassor crystal, by adording relatively spaced ff supporting points therefor and by distributing'the clamping pressure, as will be later on further explained. Furthermore, the dial 27 is provided with diametrically opposed cut-out29, that facilitate quick assembly b y zsnapping said dial lbetween the flanges 16, 17

of the mounting frame 14,*as well as correctly positioning v.the same relative to such mounting` member or frame. The arcuate tongues or spacers 28 also serve to accommo- -date glasses or crystals of varied thickness,

as will be obvious. Y

The indicating pointerv 30 of the gauge is fixed to an arbor 31 freely journaledV in a tubular offset 32 on the dial 27, and is ar- ;-gianged to swing over a rio-ordinating arcuate scale 3,3, provided with sub-divisions to indicate the contents of the supplytank byquffii.q` ter stages. This pointer 30 is provided with a counterweight, 34, while the `inner end of ,fthe arbor 31 is cranked or bent at,35,forv cothewbar ends-with the major extent thereof co-planar to said bar 39. Conveniently, althoughnot essentially, opposed to the angled rarm 37, is a tongue 42 integral with the body bar Z39-angled with respect to the plane thereof--adapted yto be. positioned adjacent, and subject to actuation by, the central portion or button of the aneroid liaphragm'21,` as later on explained. The actuator-lever 38 is vnormally positioned-in the gauge-substantially vertical and it is supported by j ournal'o'penings 40', 41 afforded the pintlesv 40', 41, inupper and lower rock levers 43, 4.4,

respectively. Thesek rock levers143, 44;V are, preferably, slotted longitudinally at 45as best shown in Fi g. VII- to increase frictional engagement with theparts 16, 17 of the Vframe 14, while the former orv upper one'43 is pivoted to the mounting frame fiange 16 by means of a claw 46 engaging lin and clampingly below a notch 47 in said flange; whereas movement ofthe rock lever 43 is limited by an opposed'claw 48 similarly cooperating with a relatively wider curved notch 49 in said flange 16, as clearly understandable upon an examination ofk Figs. lVV and VLmore par!y ticularly. Attention is directedy to the fact that the upper rock` lever 43 is pivoted adjacent the linner end of the flange 16, and that it is also of a lenG'thcnot to project beyond the confines of the dial 27 and mountingy frame vertical portion 14, saidlever servingtocontrol the position of the a'ctuator'tongue 42 relative to the diaphragm spot projectionor center button-so that the gauge pointer- 30'will not begin to register until after said diaphragm has initially distended sufiicient to accommodate the iin-usableresidue in the supply tank. 1 n

On the other hand, the lower rock lever 44- is similarlyI pivoted to themounting frame flange 17 by means of aclaw() engaging in a hole 51, provided for the purpose insaid flange adjacent its outer end; 'whereasmovey ment of thisz rock leverI 44is. limited b v an=- opposed claw 52 likewisecooperating with a curved notch 53 in the flangeE 17, inamanner similar to vthat `describedin, the preceding paragraph in connection with lthe uppery rockv lever 43. Jrttentionyis, however, particularlv-A directed to the fact that the rock lever-44 is rearwardly extended :sof as to proviuey a manipulator end 54 which projects. through a slot 55-Fig, IIe-inf thel casing-12fora` Y purposehereafter set forth. Elongatedarcu- 'f u ate slots 56, 57 are formed in the upper and l lowerV mounting frame flanges 16, 17-at right angles to one another-for free passage and guidance of the actuator-lever or rock-element 38 in effecting certain gauge adjustments, hereafter noted.

Having described the gauge assembly 11, per se, I will now explain the manner of its attachment in the Vcasing 12. This casing 12 is made of sheet metal of cup formation with an attached tubular stem 58, adapted to snugly receive the aneroid shank 19 previous to application thereto of the coupler nipple 23. Proper positional placement of the gauge assembly 11 in the casing 12 is obtained by means of spot projections 59stamped up from the casing bottomengaging in holes 60 provided for the purpose in the vertical portion 14', of the mounting fra-me 14; while said casing is formed also with an outwardly flaring lip 61,. After the assembled unit 11 is inserted in the casing 12, the latter is closed-in by means of a glass or crystal 62, superposed on the tongues 28-hereinbefore referred to-in spacial relation to the dial 27, whereupon the margin of said glass or crystal is overlapped by a retainer ring G3 with interposition of a suitable flexible gasket 64. rlhis retainer ring is now burred or turned over-as indicated at (S5-into firm clamping engagement at the back of the casing lip 61, whereby the parts 11, 12 are permanently and rigidly secured together.

As a convenient means for attaching the gauge to the instrument board (i6-Fig. X- of an automobile for example, I make use of the clamping device 13, shown in detail by Fig. IX. This clamping device 13, is preferably a sheet-metal bridge-section stamping, having the web or intermediate portion reinforced by lateral stifener flanges 67, and it is medially apertured at 68 for free passage over the externally screw-threaded tubular stem 58, fixture in place being obtained by means of a nut 69, for an obvious manner.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the actuator-lever'or rock-element 38, upon which the aneroid diaphragm 21 operates, is fashioned and.V configured so that when the upper rock llever 43 is initially set the gauge will begin to indicate at the proper point. On the other hand it is possible to shift the lower rock lever 44 from one extreme position to the other without moving the pointer 30 from the Empty position;

inasmuch as no matter what difference thereV be in the depth between any two tanks, the

pointer 30 should always indicate Empty when both tanks are empty. It will also be noted that by my invention I have provided an effective means to accomplish the just recited desiderata, inasmuch as the shifting of the actuator-lever bearings 40, 41-by means of the rock levers 43, 44, respectively-causes the actuator-lever 38 to rotate in one instance,

when the lever l44 vis moved, about aconical axis; and, in the other case, when the lever 43 is moved, the actuator lever 38 is swung arcuately away from the button of the diaphragm 21 in a substantially diametric direction. Or,

Finally` it is thought my novel type of `presl'sure gauge will be fully understood from the foregoing description, although it is manifest this invention-in its Oeneric as'aects-is like- Vwise capable of various modifications and ready adaptation to other forms of gauges than that specifically typified. However, it is asserted that all such other embodiments anduses of the invention as may come within the terms of the appended claims are believed to be within the spirit and contemplation of said invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim 1s:-

1. A gauge comprising a pivotal pointer, Y

a graduated dial overtravelled by the pointer., an arbor for the pointer having a cranked end portion, anl aneroid disk device, an actuator having a tongue engageable by the'disk ldevice and an arm co-ordinated with the arbor cranked end portion, and said actuator being journaledbetween bearing elements respectively capable of independent rotative movei ment to effect conoidal adjustment of the actuator in restricting the pointer travel to the 4dial limits.

2. A gauge comprising a pivotal pointer, a graduated dial overtravelled'by the pointer, an arbor Afor the pointer having a cranked end portion, an aneroid device with a dia" phragm adapted to be influenced by pressure, an actuator having atongue engageable by the diaphragm and an angle arm co-ordinat-` ed with the arbor cranked end portion, and pivotal bearing members affording free journal support for the actuator, one of which is movable to arcuately swing the actuatorto f or away vfrom the diaphragm` center, and the other movable to vary the Vjournal axis of theV actuator conoidally with respect thereto.V

3. A gauge comprising a pivotal'pointer, f

a dial with a graduated scale over which the pointer moves, an arbor for thepointer havoperative unit. i C,

ccrgnked end portion to effect movement of 4. A. gauge comprising a `pivotal pointer, a graduated dial over Which the pointer; moves, anarborV for the pointer. having a cranked end portion, pressure responsive means,pivotally'mounted bearing elements,

and an, actuator journaled in said pivotally mounted bearing elementsadapted for differential movement, said actuator consisting of a sheet-metal barmember having, pintle lends 191 yWith a tonguel at an angle tothe planeV thereof for repose co-aXial of the pressure-responsive; means and an arm co-planar With said bar having an angl-ed end for co-ordination to the, arbor cranked end portion. aforesaid.

5. A. gauge .comprising a pivotal pointer, a dial with, a: graduated scale over which the pointermoves, an arbor for the pointer having a cranked end portion, a pressure-responsive device, an actuator, pivotal bearing elements for the actuator enabling-differential j adjustment thereofsaid actuator co-ordinatingthe pressure-responsive device With the arbor cranked end portion to effect movementof the pointer in one direction, and a n-mounting member whereby these various parts are supported as an operative assemblage, said member being in the form ot' a sheet metal stamping having an intermediateV portion of channel cross-sectionl with `terminalflanges-in parallel, said channel section .sustaining th-e pressure-responsive device,and the parallel flanges having means for attaching the dial in place as Well as aifording pivotal supportv for the `bearings aforesaid.

fjA` gauge comprising a pivotal pointer,

a dial with a graduated scale over which the Y pointer moves, an arbor for the pointer havgringa cranked end portion, a pressure-responsive device, an actuator, pivotal bearing levers for the actuator enabling` differential adjustment thereof, said actuator directly co-ordinating the pressure-responsive device With the arbor cranked end portion to edect movement of the pointer in one direction, and

an assembly mounting for these parts embodying an intermediate portion of channel cross-section With flat terminal portions in parallel, the intermediate portion having an 5 orifice to receive and sustain a headed shank of the` pressure-responsive device, and the flat terminal portions having opposed slots affording attaching means for the dial as Well aspivotal connection for the actuator bearings aforesaid.

the pointer in onezdirection, and an assembly mounting -for these parts embodying anv lintermediate portion of channel cross-section With flat terminal portions in parallehthe intermediate portion having an orificek to receive and sustain a headed shank of the pressure-responsive device, and the flat terminal With co-planar arcuate tongues gripping the face thereof, one of the flanges being provided With differential notches adjacent its vinner end for pivotal attachment of one of the actuator bearings, and the other of said flanges having similar means adjacent its outer end for'connection of the other actuator bearing.

8. A gauge comprising a pivotal pointer, a dial With a graduated scale over Which the pointer moves, an arbor for the pointer, an aneroid disk, an actuator, bearing members for the actuator having capacity for differential adjustment, said actuator directly co-ordinating the aneroid disk With the pointer arbor to affect movement thereof in one direction, a mounting frame affording pivotal support for the bearing members in which the foregoing parts are arranged as a cooperative assemblage, said frame having projecting arcuate tongues, a casing adapted to receive the assemblage and having a Haring lip, a crystal afforded support by the arcuate tongues in spacial relation to the gauge dial, and a retainer ring marginally lapping the crystal with a-peripheral portion brought into clamping'engagement at the back of thev casing lip Wherebythe assemblage is permanently enclosed in the casing. i

9. A gauge comprisingia pivotal pointer, a dial With a graduated scale over Which the pointer moves, an arbor for the pointer, an aneroid disk, an actuator, bearing members for said actuator having capacity for differential adiustment, said actuator directly coordinating the aneroid disk With the pointerv arbor to affect movement thereof in one'direction, a mounting frame Vaffording pivotal support .for the bearing members in which the foregoing parts are arranged as a co-operative assemblage, said frame having projecting arcuate tongues, al casing adapted to receive the assemblage and having a flaring lip, a crystal afforded support the arcuate tongues in spacial relation to the gauge dial, a retainer ring marginally lapping the'crystal and gripping the casing lip to permanently secure the assemblage together, and spot projections in the casing entering aperturesA in `the mounting frame to prevent relative rotation betweenV the assembled parts.

l0. A gauge comprising a pivotal pointer, a dial with a graduated scale overv which the. pointer moves, an arbor for'the pointer, anv aneroid disk, an actuator, bearing membersfor .the actuator having capacity fori dif.-

sof'

fei'ential adjustment, said actuator directly co-ordinating the aneroid disk with the pointer arbor to effect movement of the latter in one direction, a mounting frame embodying upper and lower flanges affording pivotal support for the bearing members and in which the aforesaid parts are arranged in co-operative assemblage, said frame embodying lateral projecting tongues, a casing to receive the assemblage as a whole and having a flaring lip, a crystal supported by the projecting tongues in spaced relation to the gauge dial, a retainer ring marginally lapping the crystal and gripping the casing lip to secure the assemblage together, the aforesaid projecting tongues accommodating variations in thickness of the crystal, and means in the casing co-operative with the mounting frame to prevent relative rotation between the assembled parts.

11. A gauge comprising a pivotal pointer, a dial with a graduated scale over which the pointer moves, an arbor for the pointer, an

' aneroid disk having a coaxial shank, an actuator with pintle ends, bearing levers engaging the actuator pintle ends and having capacity for differential adjustment, said actuator directly co-ordinating the aneroid disk with the pointer arbor to eifect movement of the latter in one direction, a mounting frame embodying upper and lower flanges with means affording pivotal support for the bearing levers and in which the aforesaid parts are arranged in co-operative assemblage, said frame embodying lateral projecting tongues, a casing to receive the assemblage as a body and having a flaring lip, a crystal supported by the projecting tongues in spaced rela-tion to the gauge dial, a retainer ring marginally lapping the crystal and gripping the casing lip to secure said parts together, the aforesaid projecting tongues by compression accommodating variations in thickness of the crystal. means in the casing co-operative with the mounting frame for preventing relative rotation between the assembled parts, and a clamping device whereby the gauge is secured in use, said device comprising a bridge stamping having the intermediate portion formed with stiffener flanges and a central aperture accommodating the shank of the aneroid disk, and said shank being externally screw-threaded to receive a lock nut.

12. A gauge comprising a counterbalanced pivotal pointer, a dial having a graduated scale over which the pointer moves and also provided with diametrically opposed cutouts, an arbor for the pointer, an aneroid disk responsive to pressure from within, .an actuator with pintle ends, bearing elements co-operative with the actuator pintle ends and having capacity for differential adjustment, said actuator directly coordinating the aneroid disk and pointer arbor for movement in one direction, a mounting frame embodying upper and lower flanges with differential notches, affording pivotal connection for the bearing elements, and in which Vthe aforesaid parts are arranged'as an assembled (io-opera-` tive bod said frame havinV inwardl f con-v i Y g Y verging slots providing projecting tongues and bearing spurs between which the dialis snapped, a casing for the assembled'unit having a flaring lip, a crystal seating on the pro- V,

jecting tongues, means preventing relative" rotation of the unit and casing, and a retainer ring marginally lapping the crystal and gripping the flaring lip to lock the entire assemblage permanently together.

13. In a gauge, a mounting member coni" sisting of a metal stamping having an intermediate channeled-section with a central and spaced apertures, said member embodying c0- extensive flat flanges each of which is con-H vergently slotted to provide bearing spursA with co-planar compressible tongues, and each said iiange having differently positioned slots and notchings.

vlt. In a gauge, a clamping member con-r, V.sistiiig of a bridge-like sheet metal stamping,

the web portion whereof is formed with a central bearing aperture and reinforcing lat-l eral stiffener flanges extending the full length of said web portion.

15. A gauge comprising a pivotal pointer,l

whereby the actuator may be circumferen-r tially adjusted in two directions substantially at right angles to one another.

16. A gauge comprising a pointer, a co- Y' ordinatingdial over which the pointer moves,

an arbor'for the pointer, 4an actuator' operaj iio Y tively connecting with the arbor, an aneroid disc device adapted to influence said actuator in effecting movement of the pointer `in one direction, and pivotally mounted Vbearing levers between which the actuator is joury naled and adapted for differential swinging movement in parallelingplanes, one of said leversimparting arcuate vmovement to the actuator with respect to the aneroid axis and the other conoidally swinging the same.

17. In a gauge, an actuator unit consist-` ing of a metal stamping configured to provide a bar portion having joggled ends constituting bearing pintlesV with a lateral tongue, said tongue being directed at an angle to the plane of said barfportion,V and a medially-located arm c o-planar with the bar portion, said arm having its free end relatively bent and forked. f

18. In a gauge, a bearing member consisting of a sheet metal stamping centrally cut iso v outemlorig ,-ts1major. dimension tol-.define an f openi-endedf-s1otintermediate veo-planar paral-leling portions, ea0h1saidp0r`tion being; provided adjacent its-free: end With'an inte-vk gral relatively-upset claw.'

InV testimony whereof, I have `hereunto :signed my name at Philadelphia,y :Pennsyl- Vania, this 22nd day voffiugust, 1927.

.JOSEPH P. REMINGTON. 

